Frank Muir, who has been president and CEO of the Idaho Potato Commission since July 2003, announced that he would be retiring in six months.

“In my commission meeting on Wednesday [March 24], I made an announcement on my plans to retire,” Muir told The Produce News. “I haven’t set a specific date,” but it will be sometime around mid-September.

Dollar General announced the planned retirement of Mike Kindy, the company’s executive vice president of global supply chain, effective April 15. During his tenure with the company, he drove tremendous expansion, highlighted by the addition of nine traditional distribution centers, the inception of the DG Fresh supply chain that now includes 10 DG Fresh facilities, and the creation of the DG Private Fleet network that now includes more than 550 drivers.

The designation of March as Women’s History Month perfectly aligns with the start of this year’s California avocado season, which presented the concept to interview the three women that currently sit on the California Avocado Commission.

Grimmway Farms announced that David Bright has joined the team as vice president of marketing. Bright will direct marketing functions for all product lines at Grimmway, including the Cal-Organic Farms and Bunny-Luv brands as well as the company’s foodservice, industrial and ingredients divisions.

Donald Creighton Rae Sobey, chair emeritus of Sobeys' parent company Empire Co. Ltd. and son of the Sobey’s grocery store founder, has died. He was 86 years old.

Zespri’s leadership continues to evolve as plans emerge to meet the growing demand of Zespri SunGold kiwifruit. As part of the expansion plan, Zespri will establish a New York office in 2022 to supplement its West Coast presence. Dan Riley will assume the responsibilities from Glen Arrowsmith as market manager North America in addition to launching the New York office. Arrowsmith will transition from the North American team mid-year relocating back to New Zealand.